Abyssinian Development Corporation

Submitted by Guest on December 4, 2008 - 5:00am.

4 West 125th Street

New York

10027

Website:

www.adcorp.org

Ownership:

501c3 organization

Other

Organizational Membership:

No Membership

Organization Type:

Community Development Corporation

Organization Phone:

(646) 442-6561

Organization Fax:

(646) 442-6598

Detailed Description

Mission,Constituency, Structure:

Mission Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC) is a not-for-profit comprehensive community development corporation dedicated to improving the quality of life in Harlem. For over 15 years, ADC has strengthened and worked to rebuild the socioeconomic fabric of the Harlem community through the development of low-income and affordable housing; administration of a family-centered case management and referral system; commercial development; creation of the ADC ?Education Corridor,? neighborhood advocacy and capacity building. ADC has played a key leadership role in the current ?Harlem Renaissance.? Constituency ADC serves the Harlem community located in northern Manhattan. The 2000 Census statistics indicates that the 281,382 people that reside in Harlem are predominately African-American (55.2%) and Hispanic (35.1%). The median household income is $23,459 and 35.8% of the population has an income that is below the poverty line. In 2000, the unemployment rate in Harlem was 18.4% while New York City?s overall rate was 5.4%. Structure ADC is managed by a senior management team headed by the President and Chief Executive Officer. The other members of the senior management team include the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Strategic Officer, the Vice President of Real Estate and Asset Management, the Vice President of External Affairs, the Vice President of Programs, the Vice President of Social Services, Vice President of Strategy Management, Vice President of Technology and the Vice President of Human Resources. ADC is governed by a 22-member Board of Directors, many of whom are community residents, with expertise in many areas including real estate development, education, social services, fundraising, finance and law. Decision-making process ADC's decision-making process is a collaborative effort where a consensus effort is made between management,line staff and the Executive Team that lead to informed decisions. The responsibility for ADC's programs and services is shared between the ADC Executive Team and the ADC Board of Directors. With respect to our organizing work, we provide technical assistance to various tenant associations and block groups but do not make decisions for them. Our technical assistance provides residents the tools needed to manage their campaigns and activities.

States Worked in:

NY NEW YORK

Current Organizing Agenda:

Current Organizing Agenda ADC's organizing agenda is centered on the issues that Harlem community is facing with respect to displacement. With thousands of affordable housing units in jeopardy due to expiring subsidies coupled with rising housing costs, ADC has been working with Harlem residents, who are often low-income and marginalized members of the community, to address the issue of quality affordable housing in Harlem. Goals and Tactics Specifically, ADC's housing agenda consists of the following goals: Educate residents on broader housing issues and engage them in policy decision-making process. ACTIVITIES: ADC Staff will educate residents about policy issues relevant to the local housing campaign; assist residents in the development of a Section 8 housing campaign strategy, working in conjunction with other neighborhood community based organizations and tenant association leaders; implement a letter writing campaign to stakeholders and elected officials; organize a Central Harlem Housing Forum focused on Section 8 and Expiring Use Properties. Develop a comprehensive prevention organizing plan that incorporates the residents input as well as engages them in the process. ACTIVITIES: ADC Staff will work with tenant association leadership to engage residents in committee activities and city-wide housing campaign; effectively define and organize residents around the issue of displacement prevention; plan, organize and attend ?Lobby Day? event in NYC and /or Albany to advocate on housing issues. Connect residents to the larger Harlem community to encourage involvement in community-wide and non-housing issues. ACTIVITIES: ADC staff will conduct one-on-one resident interviews to gauge interest and inform them of policies impacting their immediate and surrounding community; actively engage youth in both civic and programmatic activities by connecting them to broader youth organizing efforts at the local, regional and national levels; coordinate and/or conduct trainings in topics such as, effective issue mobilization, impacting the political process.

Issues:

Civic Participation

Issues:

Economic Development

Issues:

Economic Justice

Issues:

Education / Child Care

Issues:

Multi-Issue Community Organizing

Issues:

Youth Empowerment

Leadership:

Volunteer Board

Organizing Strategies:

door knocking

Organizing Strategies:

one-on-one meetings

Organizing Strategies:

community meetings

Organizing Strategies:

leadership development

Organizing Strategies:

training

Organizing Strategies:

direct action

Organizing Strategies:

direct mail

Organizing Strategies:

political education

Organizing Strategies:

public education

Who We Organize:

Low-income

Who We Organize:

Moderate-income

Who We Organize:

Low-wage workers

Who We Organize:

Disabled

Who We Organize:

Homeless

Who We Organize:

Unemployed

Who We Organize:

Tenants

Who We Organize:

Immigrants/Refugees

Who We Organize:

Women

Who We Organize:

Veterans

Who We Organize:

Youth

Who We Organize:

Seniors

Who We Organize:

African American

Who We Organize:

African

Who We Organize:

Latino or Caribbean

Abyssinian Development Corporation

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